AB1428-HPR Fatigue in patients with quiescent systemic lupus erythematosus: The role of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate

Background Fatigue is a major problem in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In some patient groups, associations between fatigue and low levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEAS) have been found. Low levels of DHEA(S) may also play a role in SLE fatigue. Objectives To compare 1) serum DHEAS levels and fatigue between female patients with quiescent SLE and healthy women, and 2) fatigue between SLE patients with low and normal DHEAS levels. Methods Included were 60 female patients with quiescent SLE (31 using prednisone and 29 not using prednisone) and 60 age-matched healthy women. Serum DHEAS levels were determined using an Advantage Chemiluminescense System. Fatigue was measured with the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI). Groups were compared on DHEAS and fatigue using Chi2 and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results Compared to healthy women, SLE patients were more fatigued (p≤0.001) and more often had DHEAS levels below the lower limit of normal (p